Key Points

1. Scrub typhus alert issued in Kozhikode following a death in Koyilandy municipality.
2. The deceased was a resident of Ward 10 (Pavu Vayal) in Koyilandy.
3. The disease is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi.
4. Scrub typhus spreads through the bites of infected chiggers (larval stage of mites).
5. Symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pain, and redness of the eyes, appearing 10-12 days after the bite.
6. A black scab (eschar) may develop at the bite site.
7. Preventive measures include rodent control, environmental sanitation, and wearing protective clothing.